## Liam''s Perspective


    Sleep eluded me all night. The news of Dashiell ckthorne''s imminent return haunted me like a specter. I paced my quarters, watching shadows stretch across the wall as dawn approached.


    Time was running out.


    The Warrior''s Scroll hadn''t stopped buzzing with updates about Veridia City''s rising stars. Every notification felt like another nail in my coffin. Dashiell ckthorne—the man whose engagement to Isabelle I''d destroyed—would return stronger than ever. And I still wasn''t ready.


    My fist crashed into the wall. "Damn it!"


    I needed those five-thousand-year-old herbs. Without them, I couldn''t refine the pills necessary to break through to the next realm. Without that breakthrough, saving Isabelle from the Martial Guild would remain an impossible dream.


    A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.


    "Enter," I called, quicklyposing myself.


    Mariana Valerius, the Lord Pavilion Master, stepped inside. Her expression was grim, matching my mood.


    "You haven''t slept," she observed.


    "How could I?" I gestured to mymunication jade, still disying news of Dashiell''s return. "My enemies grow stronger while I''m stuck here, powerless."


    "Powerless?" She raised an eyebrow. "The young man who defeated Dudley Lowell is hardly powerless."


    "You know what I mean. I need those herbs."


    Mariana sighed and sat down. "My contacts have confirmed what we feared. Five-thousand-year-old medicinal herbs are indeed rare. The Veridia City Martial Guild hoards most of them."


    My shoulders slumped. "So it''s hopeless."


    "I didn''t say that." She reached into her robe and pulled out a weathered scroll. "One of my sources within the Guild provided this." <em ss="frag-8e2461">The<i ss="node-sep"></i>most<i ss="node-sep"></i>up?to?date<i ss="node-sep"></i>version<i ss="node-sep"></i>is<i ss="node-sep"></i>on<i ss="node-sep"></i>*.</em>


    I unrolled the parchment carefully. It was a map, marked with peculiar symbols andndmarks I didn''t recognize.


    "What am I looking at?"


    Mariana''s finger traced a wavy line running through the center. "This is what cultivators call a Dragon Vein—a natural formation where spiritual energy concentrates, creating perfect conditions for rare herbs and treasures."


    My pulse quickened. "And this Dragon Vein has what I need?"


    "Potentially." Her expression remained cautious. "Dragon Veins are powerful but dangerous. The intense spiritual energy attracts not only herbs but also beasts and other... phenomena."


    "I don''t care about the risks," I said immediately.


    "You should." Her voice hardened. "You won''t be the only one seeking its treasures. My source revealed this information was recently discovered by several Guild elders. They''ll send their own people."


    I studied the map more carefully. "How far?"


    "Three days'' journey west. In the mountains beyond Serpent Valley."


    I rolled up the map decisively. "I''ll leave immediately."


    Mariana grabbed my wrist. "Liam, listen to me. This is not simply about physical danger. Dragon Veins contain chaotic energy that can damage your meridians if you''re unprepared. And if the Guild catches you there—"


    "They want me dead anyway," I cut in.


    "It''s not just the Guild you need to worry about." She lowered her voice. "I''ve heard rumors that Josiah Hale survived your encounter. He''s been spotted near Serpent Valley."


    That gave me pause. Josiah Hale—the assassin I''d barely defeated, who swore to hunt me down and finish what he started.


    "All the more reason to grow stronger quickly," I finally replied.


    Mariana studied me for a long moment. "I can see you''ve made your decision. Before you go, I have a request."


    "Name it."


    "Your Three Pure Ancient Tree. Leave it with me for safekeeping."


    I tensed. The Three Pure Ancient Tree was my most valuable possession—a rare nt I''d rescued that produced pills essential to my cultivation.


    "You don''t trust me?" she asked, reading my hesitation.


    "It''s not that." I sighed, knowing she was right. "If something happens to me at the Dragon Vein, the tree should be in safe hands."


    I retrieved the small pot containing the tree and handed it to her. The emerald leaves seemed to shimmer sadly, as if the nt knew I was leaving.


    "I''ll return for it," I promised.


    Mariana nodded solemnly. "See that you do. The Celestial Apothecary Guild needs its rising star."


    ---


    Miles away in Veridia City, within the imposing headquarters of the Martial Guild, seven figures sat around a circr table hewn from ancient stone.


    Vice President Emerson Holmes mmed his fist down. "Knight is bing too problematic. First Michael Ashworth, now Dudley Lowell—how many more of our associates must fall before we act decisively?"


    Guild Master Reynolds stroked his beard. "Patience, Emerson. We underestimated the boy, true, but we have Dashiell ckthorne returning soon."


    "And if ckthorne fails as well?" Elder Chen interjected. "Thismoner advances at an unnatural rate. The longer we wait, the greater the threat he bes."


    Emerson leaned forward, his cold eyes scanning the room. "I''ve received word about a Dragon Vein activation west of the city. If Knight is as desperate as our spies suggest, he''ll seek it out."


    "The same Dragon Vein our scouts reported?" Elder Liu asked.


    "Precisely." Emerson smiled thinly. "I propose we send our own team. Secure the Dragon Vein''s resources and eliminate Knight if he appears."


    Guild Master Reynolds considered this. "Who would lead this expedition?"


    "I will," Emerson stated. "I''ll take Squad Seven—they''re our specialists in resource extraction."


    After a moment, Reynolds nodded. "Make the necessary arrangements. But remember, Emerson—the resources are our priority. Knight is secondary."


    "Of course, Guild Master." Emerson''s smile didn''t reach his eyes. "The resources first. Always."


    ---


    Dawn broke as I finished packing my supplies. The mapy open before me,mitted to memory. I traced the route one final time, noting the markers Mariana had exined.


    A knock at my door announced the Pavilion Master''s return.


    "Your preparations areplete?" she asked.


    I nodded, shouldering my pack. "I''ve packed enough provisions for a week."


    She handed me a small jade bottle. "Take this. It''s a Spirit Stabilizing Elixir—it will help protect your meridians from the chaotic energy of the Dragon Vein."


    "Thank you." I tucked it away carefully.


    "There''s one more thing you should know," she said hesitantly. "Dragon Veins aren''t just physical locations—they''re connected to the fundamental energy of our world. Legend says they''re the remnants of actual dragon paths from ancient times."


    "Dragons?" I raised an eyebrow. "Those are just myths."


    "Are they?" Her expression remained serious. "There are many things in this world beyond our understanding, Liam. The power you may encounter there isn''t simply stronger spiritual energy—it''s different. Primal."


    I considered her words. After everything I''d witnessed—the strange possession of Dudley Lowell, the ancient techniques in my jade pendant—who was I to dismiss legends?


    "I''ll be careful," I promised.


    "See that you are." She ced a hand on my shoulder. "Remember your training. Don''t rush into anything. Observe first, then act."


    I nodded and headed for the door.


    "Liam," she called after me. "Whatever you find there... some treasurese with prices that aren''t immediately apparent."


    Her cryptic warning followed me as I left the Celestial Apothecary Guild and headed west—toward either my salvation or my doom.


    ---


    The journey to Serpent Valley took less time than expected. My cultivation had improved my speed and endurance significantly. By the second day, I could already see the jagged mountains looming on the horizon.


    As I entered the valley, the air changed. It became thicker, charged with energy that made my skin tingle. The map indicated the Dragon Veiny beyond the valley, nestled in the mountains ahead.


    I stopped to rest near a stream, drinking deeply of the crystal-clear water. It tasted sweeter than normal water, infused with trace spiritual energy. A good sign—I was getting closer.


    Night fell quickly in the valley. I made camp in a small cave, setting protective formations as Mariana had taught me. Sleep came easier than it had in days, perhaps due to the spiritual energy permeating the area.


    My dreams were vivid and strange—visions of massive serpentine forms writhing beneath the earth, currents of golden energy flowing like blood through veins of stone. I saw myself standing at a crossroads of power, reaching for something just beyond my grasp.


    I woke with a start as dawn broke, sweat beading on my forehead despite the cool air.


    Something was calling me. I could feel it tugging at my consciousness.


    Packing quickly, I continued my journey, following both the map and the strange pull I now felt. The mountains grew steeper, the path narrower. Twice I had to scale sheer rock faces to continue.


    By midday, I reached a hidden teau nestled between three peaks. The moment I stepped onto it, I knew I''d found what I sought.


    The Dragon Vein.


    The air here shimmered with visible energy—golden threads winding through the atmosphere like living silk. The ground pulsed beneath my feet, warm and alive. nts grew in impossible abundance, many species I''d never seen before.


    But what drew my attention was the center of the teau. A natural formation of stones arranged in a circr pattern, with a depression in the middle filled with water so clear it seemed almost invisible.


    I approached carefully, remembering Mariana''s warnings. The energy here was potent—I could feel it trying to invade my body, seeking entry through my pores, my eyes, my breath.


    Quickly, I uncorked the Spirit Stabilizing Elixir and downed it in one gulp. A cooling sensation spread through my meridians, creating a protective barrier against the chaotic energy.


    Now protected, I began systematically exploring the teau. If five-thousand-year-old herbs existed anywhere, it would be here.


    After an hour of searching, I found my first treasure—a cluster of Blood Ginseng growing from a crack in the stones. Its roots were deep crimson, its leaves tinged with gold. From my studies, I knew this was at least three thousand years old.


    Good, but not enough.


    I continued searching, finding several valuable herbs—Spirit Cloud Grass, Moonshade Fungus, even a small patch of Starfall Flowers. All rare, all valuable, but none with the age I needed.


    The sun began to set. Frustration gnawed at me. Where were the truly ancient herbs?


    As twilight deepened, the golden threads in the air grew more visible. I noticed they seemed to flow in a pattern, all converging toward the stone circle I''d seen upon arrival.


    Following this flow, I returned to the circle. In the fading light, something caught my eye—a faint glow emanating from beneath the clear water.


    I knelt beside the pool and peered in. There, growing from the very bottom, was what I''d been seeking—a cluster of Primordial Essence Herbs, their translucent leaves rippling gently in the still water. Their aura was unmistakable—these were at least five thousand years old, possibly older.


    My heart raced. This was it! With these herbs, I could refine the pills I needed to break through.


    Just as I reached toward the water, a voice shattered the silence.


    "I wouldn''t touch that if I were you, Knight."


    I whirled around, dropping into a defensive stance. At the edge of the teau stood Vice President Emerson Holmes of the Veridia City Martial Guild, nked by six Guild members inbat formation.


    "Impressive that you found this ce," he continued, his voice deceptively casual. "But I''m afraid you won''t be taking anything from this Dragon Vein."


    I straightened slowly, measuring the distance between us, calcting my options.


    "The Guild doesn''t own every treasure in the world, Holmes," I replied, trying to buy time.


    He smiled coldly. "We own whatever we im. And we''ve imed this Dragon Vein and everything in it."


    His eyes flickered to the pool behind me. "Including those Primordial Essence Herbs you''ve so helpfully located for us."